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Fall Coastal Fishing Forecast Is Promising

AUSTIN, Texas — Autumn is upon us, which means hunting, football, cooler
temperatures, and fishing. In fact, when water temperatures cool down,
fishing on the Texas coast heats up, making it arguably the best time of the
year to go fishing. However, for several fish species, fall means the time
of year to fatten up for their upcoming spawning migration and for winter.
The change of seasons doesn't mean anglers have to change fishing tactics
proven successful during the spring and summer months. In fact, the same
techniques such as wading or drifting shallow grass beds and reefs can be
equally effective during the fall fishing season.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Coastal Fisheries Division survey
data indicates that three of the most sought-after species by anglers, red
drum, spotted seatrout and southern flounder, are abundant in most bays
during the fall. Red drum form large schools in preparation for migration to
the Gulf to begin their lives as spawning adults. Less abundant but equally
popular with anglers are southern flounder, which also form large schools in
the early fall in preparation for migration to the Gulf to spawn. Spotted
seatrout, being non-migratory and plentiful, remain in their respective bay
systems throughout the year. Additionally, Atlantic croaker, sheepshead,
sand trout, black drum and gafftopsail catfish present will be there for
fall anglers.

Fishing in Texas Bays during the autumn offers anglers an experience
second to none. The following is a bay-by-bay forecast of what Texas anglers
can expect this fall.

Sabine Lake

Sabine Lake anglers have done well during the last three months compared
with last year. Anglers can expect to continue to find good numbers of red
drum throughout the bay system this fall. Recent flooding however, may
negatively affect spotted seatrout fishing, at least in the early part of
the fall. During this time, catches of spotted seatrout will likely be
coming from the Sabine Pass jetties and nearshore Gulf waters.

This summer's tropical activities, coupled with recent flooding, should
make a wide variety of other fish species available for the ice chest. For
example, during a recent harvest survey in Sabine Pass, anglers landed 25
different species! Beginning in October, anglers can expect big catches of
bull red drum along the beach between High Island and Sabine Pass, bull
sharks in the northern reaches of Sabine Lake, schooling spotted seatrout
and Atlantic croaker in the southern reaches of Sabine Lake during
mid-October. Southern flounder should be found at the mouth of bayous during
November.

Galveston Bay

Anglers should be pleased with the fishing in Galveston Bay this fall.
Spotted seatrout populations have been increasing and catches should be
better than average. Anglers should anticipate one of the best flounder runs
they have seen in years. Recent catches of large flounder, (most in the
20-22 inch range, with the largest reported at 27 inches), have anglers
anxiously waiting for the flatfish to make their move offshore to spawn.
TPWD gillnet catches of red drum in fall 2002 were the most recorded since
1980. Catches continued to be high this spring, which suggest that anglers
should see very good catches of red drum this fall.

Matagorda Bay

Recent TPWD data suggests that recreational fishing in East and West
Matagorda bays will be average or slightly above average this fall. While
gill net catch rates for both spotted seatrout and red drum show a slight
increase during the last few years, angler success has been variable but
appears to be consistent with previous years.

This fall, the sport fishery for spotted seatrout in East Matagorda looks
promising. TPWD sampling indicates more shrimp, which should provide plenty
of forage for spotted seatrout near oyster reefs and under the birds. Even
though there has been talk of a decline of large trout (longer than 25
inches), along the coast, East Matagorda Bay continues to produce these
desirable fish in the harvest surveys and TPWD gill net samples.

Survey data suggest that the large Atlantic croaker is more abundant in
the Matagorda Bay system. Local anglers have commented that the current
increase of large croaker is a phenomenon last experienced sometime in the
late 1960's or early 1970's. It is possible that, for the first time in many
years, the Matagorda Bay system might experience a fall "croaker run." It is
doubtful that croaker abundance or catches will approximate past tales of
phenomenal landings but the increase of large croaker could provide an
additional opportunity for angler harvest.

Another pleasant surprise for Matagorda Bay anglers is that a fair number
of mangrove (grey) snapper have been landed in both East and West Matagorda
Bays. This is a very recent phenomenon occurring only in the last year. The
mangrove snapper average between 10-12 inches long and appear to be most
abundant in the vicinity of Gulf passes.

Tropical storm Claudette opened a pass into the southwest corner of east
Matagorda Bay and, according to local fishing guides and anglers; it is
providing yet another opportunity for fishing success along the middle Texas
coast. Anglers fishing the cut are regularly catching red drum, whiting,
croaker and sand seatrout.

San Antonio Bay

Recent TPWD net surveys indicate both red drum and spotted seatrout
populations are increasing in the San Antonio Bay system. Indications are
that fishing for spotted seatrout and red drum should be better than average
in local bays this fall. Populations of other sought after species, which
include southern flounder, black drum and sheepshead, have increased since
the last hard freeze in 1989. San Antonio Bay anglers should expect
better-than-average fishing for these species.

Runoff from heavy rains in the Hill Country last fall and spring resulted
in the local bays being fresher this past summer. The reduced salinity has
had no apparent ill-effects on fish populations. The fresher water has been
restricted to San Antonio Bay proper while Espiritu Santo Bay has been
closer to normal salinity. Salinities are beginning to return to normal.
Since most estuarine fish species tolerate fluctuations in salinity, current
conditions should not have a significant impact on fall fishing.

Aransas Bay

The Aransas Bay system is a favored destination for recreational anglers.
Despite the increase of recreational fishing pressure since the early
1990's, the Aransas Bay system maintains stable populations of red drum and
spotted seatrout. Based upon adequate recruitment and increasing gill net
catch rates, along with consistent freshwater inflow throughout the year,
there should be average to above average numbers of red drum available for
harvest this fall. Reports from local fishing guides indicate encounters
with numerous schools of red drum from St. Charles Bay south to the Shamrock
Island area in Corpus Christi Bay. Spring gill net surveys indicate that
there has been a substantial increase of spotted seatrout in Aransas Bay
since 1990. Anglers should anticipate above average abundance of spotted
seatrout this fall. Fall also offers an excellent time for flounder fishing.
Aransas Bay has ample public access to good wading spots as well as boating
sites along channels used by flounder during their fall migration.

Corpus Christi Bay

Following a decline of the trout population during the late 1990's,
spotted seatrout in Corpus Christi Bay have rebounded to the third-highest
level observed since 1980. Spotted seatrout anglers in Corpus Christi Bay
should be provided with plenty of opportunities to catch fish this fall. In
addition to the increase of spotted seatrout, the abundance of larger fish
has also increased.

Populations of red drum in Corpus Christi Bay have been increasing since
1996 and are currently slightly above the 1980-2002 average. Based upon
Corpus Christi gill net data, anglers can expect average red drum catches
this fall. If the increase in abundance continues, anglers can expect above
average catches in the not too distant future.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, local anglers eagerly anticipated
the fall migration of Atlantic croaker through the Corpus Christi Ship
Channel and out at the Port Aransas jetties. These "croaker runs" stopped
happening in the late 1970's. Recent samples collected in Corpus Christi Bay
showed the highest croaker catches since sampling began in 1975. In addition
to the increased numbers, the average size of Atlantic croaker caught during
the 2002 fall gill nets survey were above average. This increase of
abundance and size may present anglers with a better opportunity to catch
larger croaker during their fall migration.

The docks and jetties along the Corpus Christi Ship Channel have long
been a favorite fishing location for anglers targeting sheepshead. Catches
should begin peaking in November when the fish tend to concentrate around
structures found in and along the ship channel. Catches have appeared
relatively stable during the last two seasons and prospects look good for
the upcoming fall.

Upper Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay

Fishing for spotted seatrout in the upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay
area should improve from late summer to fall as water temperatures begin to
get cooler. In addition, the quality of trout caught should improve as adult
fish begin to recover from a long spawning season, and juveniles spawned
last year reach legal size. Based upon TPWD sampling, the availability of
trout in the upper Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay complex should be about average
for this time of year. Look for trout on the flats early in the season.
Later, after a cold front or two pass, fish will be in deeper water near
structure such as the reefs in Baffin Bay or in the Land Cut.

Most people think of upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay primarily in terms
of its spotted seatrout fishing, however, this bay system also has other
fishing opportunities to offer. Early fall is always a good time to fish for
red drum in the upper Laguna Madre and this year looks promising. This time
of year, young mature red drum are forming large schools and preparing to
migrate to the Gulf to begin their lives as spawning adults. Large numbers
of these fish are already being landed in the Laguna. Later in the fall,
these fish will be concentrated near passes as they continue their migration
to the Gulf.

Lower Laguna Madre

Recent TPWD sampling in the lower Laguna Madre indicate that the
abundance of juvenile and adult red drum and spotted seatrout are well above
the long-term average. Anglers can expect to have a better than average
chance at catching these two popular game fish this fall. In addition, the
abundance of southern flounder has been increasing steadily during the last
few years in the lower Laguna Madre. Anglers have been reporting good
numbers of flounder during recent TPWD harvest surveys. The good catches
should continue through the remainder of the fall migration.

Besides the popular red drum and spotted seatrout, the lower Laguna Madre
also offers anglers the opportunity to harvest species that are not commonly
found elsewhere on the Texas coast. Snook, mangrove (grey) snapper, and
barracuda are among species that are frequently caught in the bay and ship
channel. While these species are not present in the same numbers as trout
and red drum, the occasional landing of one of these fish can be a real
treat for a south Texas angler. Look for snook and snapper around the
jetties. Small barracuda can sometimes be caught on grass flats and around
mangroves near the Brazos Santiago pass.